He reminds me of my father. The coach was an Air Force officer who served our country. He speaks what he believes to be the truth without reserve. He doesn't like stupid questions. He inspires people to be their best. He does not worry about people believing him, because he has such a strong sense of self.

Wow, I would hug Coach Pop, if he would let me. He would probably say, “Your two questions are up!” and walk away, as my father would have done.

Since Jackie De Hon is a retired educator, I am sure she will not mind a biology lesson. Egg and sperm cells have the same genetic makeup as the organism that produced them. Their loss is no more significant than the shedding of a skin or hair cell.

However, when a sperm fertilizes an egg to form a zygote, something completely different happens. The genes combine to form a unique individual. Imprinted within the embryo's DNA is the blueprint that will determine the person he will become. Approximately four to six weeks later, he will have a perceivable heartbeat and detectable brainwaves.

Abortion should not be a partisan issue. Life can be defined when an organism exhibits metabolism, growth, and reaction to stimuli.

A glance at a fetal sonogram demonstrates that these are all attributes of a fetus. He has the genetic makeup of a homosapien, and if his development is allowed to continue, he will become a person like any of us. He is clearly a living member of the human species.

It is time we stopped framing this issue as a “war on women.” Instead, we should ask ourselves the question, “How compelling should the circumstances be to justify ending the life of a member of our species?”

Ingrid Skop, M.D.

Dark money

Re: “Predatory lenders' big payday in Utah; The question is, can it happen in Texas too?” State, April 20:

Of course, it can happen in Texas and probably already has. “The love of money is the root of all evil,” they say. Everybody knows that money and power are greater aphrodisiacs than the infamous Spanish fly.

People say that they want change, but they really don't. People are happy with the familiar. Van Gogh and Beethoven, to name just two, were disliked because they were too different.